One of the great appeals of truly independent music is that the artists are pretty much regular people. They just use their free time to write, rehearse, perform and record music instead of joining bowling teams or taking pottery classes. More often than not, original music doesn't fully finance their lives, so they keep jobs to pay the bills. Let's take some time to celebrate the musician at work.
Minneapolis band Narco States just made a 7" EP full of reverb, organs, and shouting. Obvious musical touchstones include psychedelia of The Stooges, 13th Floor Elevators and The Animals with a strong dose of 70's funk and soul and a psychobilly undercurrent. Their live performances are inspiring, with singer Michael McBlane-Meyer writhing on the stage, dropping his guitar for full-bodied maraca shakes and back again. I sent him a few questions about his other professional life.
North Memorial Hospital in Minneapolis: Pathology Dept.
What do you actually do there?
What do you actually do there?
I
am a Histotech. I work with human tissue in order to aid Pathologists
in the diagnosis of diseases such as Cancer. I do a wide range of things
from grossing in tissue, cutting tissue blocks, and staining the tissue
elements with a variety of chemicals and dyes. I also sometimes assist
in autopsies. Weigh organs, hold the brain bucket...normal every
day things like that.
What are your hours like?
Usually 4am - 12:30pm. Doesn't everybody get up a 3am?
Have your coworkers heard Narco States? What do they think?They've heard it. It's not really their bag but they are supportive...for a bunch of middle aged women anyway. Although one co-worker told me the music was great except for the singer...she said the singer was terrible. I agreed and agreed we should replace him. I just didn't tell her I was the singer.
Have your coworkers heard Narco States? What do they think?They've heard it. It's not really their bag but they are supportive...for a bunch of middle aged women anyway. Although one co-worker told me the music was great except for the singer...she said the singer was terrible. I agreed and agreed we should replace him. I just didn't tell her I was the singer.
How does your job affect your availability to focus on Narco States?
It
makes me a party pooper during the week as I cannot practice late...but
otherwise it's a "leave the job at the door" type career so I can
concentrate on rocking and rolling. I also get most weekends off and
it's easy to take time off for shows...so I can't complain about that at
all.
How does your work inspire your music or lyrics?
How does your work inspire your music or lyrics?
I
don't really think it does...If all I sang about was blood and gore or
the fragility of life that may be true (although some of those elements
might filter in). I think my music and lyrics are an existential
expression of being human. I sing about fear, anger,
contempt, humor and pop culture reverberations swirling together in my
dimly lit brain...and normal every day things like that.
Narco States 7" Release Party
Nomad World Pub
Friday January 25/ Doors at 9 PM
$5
Mary Allen and the Percolators (12:30)
Narco States (11:30)
Liquor Beats Winter (10:45)
Fret Rattles (10:00)
